babbling

1 of 2

noun

bab·​bling ˈba-b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: idle, foolish, or nonsensical talk or chatter

… the … remarks would have been nothing short of treason, if they had not been so obviously the mere babblings of an irresponsible lunatic.

—P. G. Wodehouse

2

: the production of meaningless strings of speech sounds by infants

Babbling usually coincides with the beginning of one-handed reaching and rhythmic hand activity.

—M. R. Hiller

babbling

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: talking idly or foolishly

a babbling drunk

b

: producing meaningless speech sounds

a babbling baby

2

: producing a quiet, continuous sound (such as the sound of flowing water)

a babbling brook

Examples of babbling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Moore, even in her 90s, is quite the babbling brook — twinkly and self-possessed, a calm pathological narcissist, the kind of person who spins out her life like a novel, making stories she’s told a million times sound spontaneous. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024

Leon leaned down to inspect how the cement bags were holding up against the babbling water. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024

Adjective

The outdoors provide us with wide-ranging sensory stimulation: breathtaking, panoramic views; the dulcet sounds of babbling springs and sparkling birdsong; the satisfying crunch of twigs and pine needles beneath our feet. —Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 17 Jan. 2020

When Sarah and Justin Arrington bought a gorgeous parcel of land—complete with rolling hills, winding trails, and a babbling creek—their plans for a future forever home were intentional and hard-won. —Lauren Helmer, al, 21 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a